By Nordic Walking Watford at
It’s not about winning
And it’s not about losing.
It’s about showing up!
So, we are nearly a quarter of the way through our 2023 Challenge. We’ve already seen some great progress and really dedicated walking – WELL DONE!
Have you been able to complete each one so far?
If you feel you haven’t, then maybe it’s worth looking at why.
When you set yourself a challenge, or I set it for you, it needs to be SMART.
Setting SMART goals means you can clarify your ideas, focus your efforts, use your time and resources productively, and increase your chances of achieving what you want in life.
Setting group goals is inherently difficult because I am trying to accommodate such a wide range of abilities, fitness, personality, and motivation. And those goals may need adjusting. So, think carefully about each goal and whether it is achievable for YOU. If it isn’t (due to work commitments, family commitments, injury etc) then adjust the goal and make it achievable. That doesn’t mean it should be EASY!
To make sure your goals are clear and reachable, each one should be:
Your goal should be clear and specific, otherwise, you won’t be able to focus your efforts or feel truly motivated to achieve it. For instance: your March goal was to achieve 2 early morning walks and 6 evening walks. That’s very specific.
It’s important to have measurable goals so that you can track your progress and stay motivated. Assessing progress helps you to stay focused, meet your deadlines, and feel the excitement of getting closer to achieving your goal. So in March, you were asked to achieve a set number of evening and morning walks – it was measurable, and you can count them.
Your goal also needs to be realistic and attainable to be successful. In other words, it should stretch your abilities but remain possible. So, think about your March goal? Was it realistic for YOU? If not, then you may need to adjust it. Maybe getting away from work or children is impossible in the evening but mornings are doable. So do more mornings. If it’s still a challenge, it counts.
This step is about ensuring that your goal matters to YOU, and that it also aligns with other relevant goals. We all need support and assistance in achieving our goals, but it’s important to retain control over them.
Every goal needs a target date so that you have a deadline to focus on and something to work toward. This part of the SMART goal criteria helps to prevent everyday tasks from taking priority over your longer-term goals. For Challenge 23 you have 1 goal per month, so you have that deadline.
Does it matter if I didn’t achieve the goal?
Hell no!
It doesn’t matter because any CHALLENGE is so much more about the “journey” rather than the destination.
What matters is that you tried your best and worked HARD. A challenge shouldn’t be a tick-box exercise or something you achieve by accident.
It should push you – physically, mentally, emotionally, logistically – and if it has then it was a challenge and you have earned your crown. I’m not judge and jury either – you are!
And we will celebrate everyone who has taken part in CHALLENGE 23 because striving towards a common goal, together, is what matters.
TRACY REEVE
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
NORDIC WALKING WATFORD
